While the committee acknowledged that the pandemic may be approaching a tipping point, it decided that "there is no doubt" that the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus will continue to be a permanently established pathogen in humans and animals in the future, and therefore long-term public health action is critically needed, the WHO announced in a statement released today.

"While the elimination of this virus from humans and animals is highly unlikely, mitigating its devastating impact on morbidity and mortality is feasible and should remain a priority objective," stresses the WHO.